Clamp and spike for flexible conduit

ABSTRACT

A clamp and spike combination for use in conjunction with a flexible conduit, comprising a spike including an inlet rod with a sharpened tip for penetration into the conduit, an outlet rod connected to the inlet rod, the outlet rod having a barbed tip for attachment to a tube. The bore extends through the rods from the sharpened tip to the barbed tip, whereby the spike provides a channel for the passage of fluid. Further included, a clamp including two legs extending substantially parallel with each other and spaced apart from each other by a distance, an apex portion connecting the two legs to each other so that the clamp is shaped substantially in the form of an inverted “U”; and an opening in the apex portion, the opening being sized to receive the inlet rod of the spike.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a device and method for facilitatingthe insertion of a hollow spike into a flexible conduit.

In recent years, the demand for water to irrigate gardens and publicspaces has grown exponentially. However, the supply of water hasremained constant, or has declined. Therefore, ever more systems arebeing developed to apply the limited amount of water available. One suchsystem is the “low flow” system which takes water along a ¼ inch tubeto, for example, a bubbler and/or to another low flow emitter such as amicro sprayer, which is an outlet adapted to discharge water directly atthe root of a plant with a smaller coverage diameter than the averageirrigation sprinkler. The advantages of such a system include the factthat water conveyance efficiency is near 100 percent because wind andevaporation are denied their usual effect on water loss. This mayprovide for a shortened required time of irrigation, and thus reducespower costs. Furthermore, bubbler outlets are not easily blocked, andthe low flow system provides a high water application efficiency.

In order to convert existing water distribution systems to be capable oflow flow irrigation, it is generally necessary to tap into an existingwater conduit with a hollow lower spike that includes an upper barbedtip configured to receive a flexible ¼ inch pipe that leads off to a lowflow irrigation emitter.

One of the problems encountered in converting an existing waterdistribution system to be capable of low flow bubbler irrigation is thatinserting the hollow spike into an existing water conduit is attendedwith considerable difficulty. First, it is difficult to apply pressureto a sharpened tip of a typical spike because a radially outwardlyextending barbed tip on an opposite external end of the spike makes itdifficult for a user to gain a suitable grip on the body of the spikewithout injuring himself. Second, the sharpened tip of the spike has atendency to slip off the rounded conduit surface when pressure isapplied, thereby introducing the danger of injury to the installer viathe sharpened tip. Third, if the sharpened tip of the spike is notsufficiently sharp, pressure applied to the spike has a tendency tobuckle the surface of the water conduit rather than pierce into it. Thistendency may vary according to the relative stiffness of the waterconduit, and in some cases a separate metal piercing tool must be usedto initiate a hole. However, although a stiffer pipe has a smallertendency to buckle, such pipes are more difficult to pierce andtherefore increase the tendency of the spike to slide off the roundedconduit surface and potentially injure the installer. Fourth, once thespike is inserted into a conduit, any bump or knock against the spiketends to damage the seal that results between spike and conduit so thata leak tends to develop.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system and method forfacilitating the insertion of a hollow spike through the surface of awater conduit that solves the problems in the prior art. The presentinvention addresses these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described, in its preferred embodiments.

In a first aspect, the invention is a clamp and spike combination foruse in conjunction with a flexible conduit that has a standard diameterhaving a magnitude of a first distance. In the preferred embodiment, thecombination comprises a spike including an inlet rod with a sharpenedtip for penetration into the conduit. An outlet rod is connected to theinlet rod, the outlet rod having a barbed tip for attachment to a tube.A bore extends through the rods from the sharpened tip to the barbedtip, whereby the spike provides a channel for the passage of fluid. Thecombination further has a clamp including two legs extendingsubstantially parallel with each other and spaced apart from each otherby a maximum spacing having a second distance. The second distance issubstantially equal to the first distance, by which it is meant hereinthat the second distance is sized to snugly receive a conduit ofstandard diameter having a magnitude of a first distance. An apexportion connects the two legs to each other so that the clamp is shapedsubstantially in the form of an inverted “U.” The apex portion definesan opening sized to receive the inlet rod of the spike, whereby theinlet rod of the spike is receivable through the opening in the apexportion to penetrate a received conduit. Thus, the clamp, once mountedon a conduit, advantageously provides a fixed and secure opening abovethe conduit. A user may safely insert a sharpened portion of the spikethrough the opening and safely force the spike into the conduit withoutconcern that the spike will slip off the rounded conduit and physicallyinjure the hand holding the conduit. Once the spike has safelypenetrated the conduit, the clamp provides a support against bending andremoval of the spike from the conduit.

In another aspect of the combination, the outlet rod extendssubstantially perpendicular to the inlet rod. This addresses a problemin the prior art where spikes tend to be linear, thus presenting theuser with a sharp portion against which to apply manual pressure topenetrate the spike into the conduit. In yet a further aspect, the spikeincludes a plate attached to the spike and extending substantiallyperpendicular to the inlet rod, the plate being configured to facilitateand permit a user to apply a force on the spike along the axis of theinlet rod with the palm of a hand.

In another aspect of the combination, each leg of the clamp includes, ata terminal end of the leg opposite the apex, a foot extending towardsthe foot on an opposite leg so that the two feet are separated from eachother by a third distance that is smaller than the second distance, andthus also smaller than the standard diameter of a received conduit,whereby a standard diameter conduit received between the two legs isrestrained against removal from the clamp by the two feet. This has theadvantage of securely fixing the clamp in relation to the conduit andspike at all material times during installation and use. Also preferred,the clamp has a first elongate width and further includes two opposingshaping surfaces, each shaping surface attached to a leg and having asecond elongate width that is smaller than the first width, the shapingsurfaces being spaced apart from each other by a fourth distance smallerthan the second distance, whereby a conduit of standard diameterreceived between the two legs is compressed out of circular shape by theshaping surfaces. Preferably, the fourth distance is not more than 90percent of the second distance, and the second width is not more than 30percent of the first width.

In yet another preferred aspect of the combination, mating detents arepositioned in the opening and on the inlet rod, whereby the spike isrestrained from removal from the clamp once the spike is received by theclamp.

Another facet of the invention comprises a clamp, for use in combinationwith a spike and a flexible conduit that has a standard diameter havingmagnitude of a first distance. In this facet, the clamp comprises twolegs extending substantially parallel with each other and spaced apartfrom each other by a second distance. An apex portion connects the twolegs to each other so that the clamp is shaped substantially in the formof an inverted “U.” An opening is provided in the apex portion, theopening being sized to receive a portion of the spike. The seconddistance is sized to snugly receive a conduit of standard diameterbetween the legs, whereby the portion of the spike is receivable throughthe opening in the apex portion to penetrate a received conduit. Eachleg includes, at a terminal end of the leg opposite the apex, a footextending towards the foot on an opposite leg so that the two feet areseparated from each other by a third distance that is smaller than thesecond distance, and also smaller than the diameter of a receivedconduit, whereby a conduit of standard diameter received between the twolegs is restrained against removal from the clamp by the two feet. In apreferred embodiment, the clamp has a first elongate width and furtherincludes two opposing shaping surfaces, each shaping surface attached toa leg and having a second elongate width smaller than the first width,the shaping surfaces being spaced apart from each other by a fourthdistance smaller than the second distance, whereby a conduit of standarddiameter received between the two legs is compressed out of circularshape by the shaping surfaces. Preferably, the fourth distance is notmore than 90 percent of the second distance, and the second width is notmore than 30 percent of the first width.

In yet a further facet, the invention is a spike for use in conjunctionwith a flexible conduit. The spike comprises an inlet rod with asharpened tip for penetration into the conduit, and an outlet rodconnected to the inlet rod, the outlet rod having a barbed tip forattachment to a tube. A bore extends through the rods from the sharpenedtip to the barbed tip, whereby the spike provides a channel for thepassage of fluid. The outlet rod extends substantially perpendicular tothe inlet rod and a plate is attached to the spike and extendssubstantially perpendicular to the inlet rod, the plate being configuredto facilitate a user applying a force on the spike along the axis of theinlet rod with the palm of a hand.

These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparentfrom the following detailed description thereof and the accompanyingexemplary drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp and a spike for water conduithaving features of the present invention, shown in combination with awater conduit.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the clamp seen in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the clamp of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the clamp of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clamp of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the clamp and spike of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the spike and clamp of FIG. 1

FIG. 8 a bottom surface view of the spike and clamp of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a spike and clamp as seen in FIG. 1, withthe spike shown in disengaged condition.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a second embodiment of the clamp in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a third embodiment of the clamp in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a clamp andspike combination 20 having features of the present invention isdescribed. FIG. 1 exemplifies the final configuration of the novel clamp22 and spike 24 as used in combination 20 under the system and method ofthe present invention. Both clamp and spike are seen in conjunction witha water conduit 26, into which a portion of the spike 24 has beeninserted through an opening in the clamp, while the clamp 22 has beenmounted on the conduit as described herein below.

With reference to the drawings, the preferred configuration of the spike24 of the present invention (best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10) includes ahollow inlet rod 30 with a sharpened tip 31 adapted for penetrating orexpanding a hole in a water conduit 26. The spike also includes a hollowoutlet rod 32 (FIGS. 1 and 6) with a barbed tip 33, the outlet rodpreferably extending at a substantially right angle to the inlet rod 30.Substantially, in this context permits a variation of plus or minus 15degrees from a true right angle. The spike 24 defines a bore 34 thatextends from the sharpened tip 31 of the inlet rod 30, to the barbed tip33 of the outlet rod 32. The inlet rod 30 is configured to have a tip 31that is sufficiently sharp that a downward force applied to the spike 24will cause the inlet rod 30 to penetrate and be inserted into anirrigation conduit 26. Once the spike is inserted into the conduit 26(FIG. 10), the bore 34 through the spike provides a channel for water toflow from the conduit out to a flexible tube (not shown) attached to thebarbed tip 33, and onwards to an irrigation head (not shown). A furtherpreferred aspect of the spike of the present invention is that itincludes a pressure plate 35 shaped to fit comfortably into the palm ofa user's hand and extending substantially perpendicular to the inletrod, whereby the user may assert a downward force on the spike along theaxis of the inlet rod 30 sufficient to penetrate the sharpened tip 31into a conduit, without the barbed tip of the spike pointing generallyupwardly towards the hand.

The clamp 22 of the present invention includes two legs 36, 38 connectedto each other by an apex portion 55 to form a saddle-shaped structuresubstantially in the form of an inverted “U.” The legs are separatedfrom each other by an internal distance “D2” as seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and8, which is preferably substantially the same as the diameter “D1” of astandard diameter conduit onto which the clamp is designed to beattached, as indicated in FIGS. 6-8. When used as intended, the clamp 22is mounted downwardly onto a standard diameter conduit 26 havingdiameter “D1,” with the two legs 36, 38 straddled on either side of theconduit 26, as seen in the figures, so that the diameter of the conduit“D1” fits snugly between the legs that are spaced apart by the distance“D2.”

A first advantageous feature of the clamp 22 is that it provides asecure and stable opening 28 at the apex portion 55 through which thesharpened tip 31 of the inlet rod 30 of the spike 22 may be insertedbefore pressure is applied to the spike via the pressure plate 35 forpenetrating the sharpened tip 31 into the conduit 26.

When used, the clamp 22 may first be mounted on the conduit 26, whilethe spike is withdrawn and separate from the clamp, as seen in FIG. 9.Once the clamp is securely mounted on the conduit, the tip 31 of thesharpened rod 30 of the spike may be inserted through the opening 28 atthe apex of the clamp, and pressure may be applied to the spike via thepressure plate 35 until the sharpened tip 31 of the inlet rod 30penetrates the conduit 26, as exemplified in FIGS. 7 and 10. (Undercertain circumstances, a metal piercing tool may first be used toinitiate a hole in the conduit.) The presence of the opening 28 in afixed position above the surface of the conduit advantageously preventsthe sharpened tip 31 from sliding off the rounded conduit duringpenetration, which may occur with an attendant risk of physical injuryto the user when the spike is forced directly onto a rounded conduitsurface without the benefit of the clamp 22 of the present invention. Inits final penetrated state (FIG. 10), the spike 24 provides a channelvia the bore 34 for water to flow from the conduit 26 to a flexible pipe(not shown) attached to the barbed tip 33 of the outlet rod 32, andonwards to an irrigation head.

A further preferred advantageous feature of the clamp 22 is that it maybe configured to provide a means for securing the clamp to a conduit sothat the clamp remains firmly attached to the conduit after beingmounted thereon. In furtherance of this advantage, each of the two legs36, 38 includes, at a terminal end of each leg opposite the apex 55, atleast one inturned foot 40, 42 respectively. Each inturned foot extendsinwardly, preferably towards the other foot, underneath the “belly” ofthe conduit, so that an internal space “D3” between the feet, asindicated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8, is smaller than the maximum internalspacing “D2” between the legs 36, 38 (and also, therefore, smaller thanthe standard diameter D1 of the conduit onto which the clamp is designedto be mounted.) Thus, when the clamp 22 is being mounted on the conduit26, the clamp is first brought into contact with the conduit so thatboth feet touch the conduit. The clamp is then pushed forcibly down ontothe conduit, so that the feet are forced slightly apart, and a bendingmoment is set up in the clamp with maximum bending moment taking placeat the apex. When the feet are opened up sufficiently, the conduit(which at this point may itself undergo a slight amount of deformation)slips up into the opening between the legs, and is trapped in theopening by the feet 40, 42 which snap together again under the belly ofthe conduit. The feet 40, 42 and the legs 36, 38 may further be shapedto provide a portion of a circular opening, suitable for holding theconduit securely as seen in FIG. 7. Thus, once the clamp 22 is mountedon the conduit 26, only a concerted force will be able to dislodge theclamp from the conduit. Therefore, a secure support in the form of theopening 28 is provided above the surface of the conduit to hold thespike 24 in position, both while the spike is being forced to penetratethe conduit, and also after it has penetrated the conduit.

A yet another preferred aspect of the invention, a further advantageousfeature of the clamp 22 may be provided. In this aspect, each leg 36, 38may be provided with two feet separated from each other so that thereare two sets of opposing feet, a first set 40, 42 and a second set 41,43 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 8. In this embodiment, one set ofopposing feet 40, 42 is positioned at a forward end of the clamp and theother set of opposing feet 41, 43 is positioned at a rearward end of theclamp, with the rearward set being separated from the forward set.Preferably, in this embodiment, two opposing shaping elements 44, 46 maybe attached to the legs and positioned centrally between the forward setof feet and rearward set of feet. The opposing shaping elements includeshaping surfaces 48 and 50 respectively (best seen FIGS. 8, 9 and 10)that are opposing, that are preferably substantially parallel to eachother, and that are separated from each other by an internal distance“D4” that is slightly smaller than the internal separation between thelegs “D2,” and hence slightly smaller than the standard diameter “D1” ofthe conduit upon which the clamp is designed to be mounted. Preferably“D4” is not more than 90 percent of “D2” the maximum separation distancebetween the legs. In a preferred embodiment, where the standard diameter“D1” of a conduit is 0.7 inches, and hence “D2” is about the samedimension, the internal distance “D4” between the shaping surfaces is0.6 inches.

The effect of the shaping elements 44, 46 is that, when the clamp 22 isforced down onto a conduit 26 of diameter “D1,” the shaping elementsforce the conduit to assume a slightly non-circular or oval shape at theelongate center of the clamp, adjacent the opening 28 at the apex. Asbest seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the radius of curvature of the conduit 26at the top of the conduit is forced to be slightly smaller than theradius of curvature half way to the bottom of the conduit. Thisreduction in the radius of the conduit under the opening 28, and supportof the conduit along the sides provided by the shaping elements 44, 46,renders the conduit stiffer against vertical deformation at the locationof the opening 28 in the clamp 22, so that the sharpened tip 31 of thespike, when pushed downward onto the conduit through the opening 28, ismore likely to pierce the conduit than to cause it to buckle downwardly.In a further preferred aspect of this feature, the width of the shapingsurfaces “W2” is preferably not more than 30 percent of the width of theclamp “W1,” as seen in FIG. 4. This aspect of the clamp has the furtheradvantageous result that the user is required to deform only a smallportion of the conduit that is forced between the legs 38, 40, yet it isa portion that may be sufficient to prevent the conduit from bucklingdownwardly when the spike is forced onto and through the upper surfaceof the conduit. In a preferred embodiment, the width W1 of the clamp is0.76 inches, and the width W2 of the shaping surface is 0.2 inches.

In a further preferred aspect, a further advantageous feature of theinvention may be provided. In this aspect, the spike 24 may be providedwith a detent 50 that preferably extends around the circumference of theinlet rod 30, while the opening 28 in the clamp is provided with aninternal mating detent 52 that preferably extends around thecircumference of the opening 52. When the spike is inserted into theconduit through the opening 28, as seen in FIG. 10, the two detents 50,52 matingly engage with each other to secure the spike against workingout of the hole in the conduit formed by the inlet 30 rod. This is anadvantageous feature because it overcomes a problem encountered in theprior art wherein, if the spike is provided with a barbed detent forattachment directly to the conduit, that detent makes a hole in theconduit bigger than actually needed for the rod alone, and theconnection may tend to leak. Furthermore, if any external force isapplied to the spike in the prior art (such as a gardener bumping itwith his feet) the spike will tend to pull out of the conduit, and thebarbed detent on the rod, internal to the conduit, will pull against thewall of the conduit and may damage it to cause a leak. In the presentinvention, however, the clamp is attached to the conduit by externalfeet 40, 42, and the spike is held in position in relation to theconduit by detents 50, 52 which are positioned external to the conduiton the spike and the clamp. Thus, the depth of the opening 28 in theclamp 22 provides a restraint against any bending that might be appliedto the spike 24, thereby further protecting and reinforcing the sealbetween the spike 24 and the conduit 26. Accordingly, any external roughforce applied to the spike will be withstood by the clamp, rather thanby the thin wall of the conduit which is otherwise prone to sufferdamage.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 there are shown alternative embodiments of theinvention. Specifically, FIG. 11 exemplifies an embodiment of a clamp22′ that includes feet 40′, 42′ but does not include any shapingelements. FIG. 12 exemplifies an embodiment of a clamp 22″ that includesneither feet nor shaping elements, but does include a pair of legs 36″,38″ connected by an apex 55″. A further embodiment (not exemplified inthe drawings) may include shaping elements, but not feet. Allembodiments of the spike and clamp are preferably molded from ABS, PVC,or other suitable plastic moldable material.

Thus, the clamp and spike combination of the present invention providesa novel and advantageous structure for tapping into a water conduit forthe purpose of drawing off water for irrigation. The present inventionmay, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those hereinset forth without departing from the essential characteristics of theinvention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive, while the scope of theinvention is set forth in the claims that follow.

1. A clamp and spike combination for use in conjunction with a flexibleconduit of standard diameter, the diameter having a magnitude of a firstdistance, comprising: a spike including: an inlet rod with a sharpenedtip for penetration into the conduit; an outlet rod connected to theinlet rod, the outlet rod having a barbed tip for attachment to a tube;wherein, a bore extends through the rods from the sharpened tip to thebarbed tip, whereby the spike provides a channel for the passage offluid; a clamp including: two legs extending substantially parallel witheach other and spaced apart from each other by a maximum seconddistance; an apex portion connecting the two legs to each other so thatthe clamp is shaped substantially in the form of an inverted “U”; and anopening in the apex portion, the opening being sized to receive theinlet rod of the spike; wherein, the second distance is sized to snuglyreceive the conduit of standard diameter between the legs, whereby theinlet rod of the spike is receivable through the opening in the apexportion to penetrate a received conduit.
 2. The clamp and spikecombination of claim 1, wherein the outlet rod extends substantiallyperpendicular to the inlet rod.
 3. The clamp and spike combination ofclaim 2, wherein the spike includes a plate attached to the spike andextending substantially perpendicular to the inlet rod.
 4. The clamp andspike combination of claim 3, wherein the plate is configured to permita user to apply a force on the spike along the axis of the inlet rodwith the palm of a hand.
 5. The clamp and spike combination of claim 1wherein each leg includes, at a terminal end of the leg opposite theapex, a foot extending towards the foot on an opposite leg so that thetwo feet are separated from each other by a third distance that issmaller than the second distance, whereby a conduit received between thetwo legs is restrained against removal by the two feet.
 6. The clamp andspike combination of claim 1, wherein the clamp has a first elongatewidth and further includes two opposing shaping surfaces, each shapingsurface attached to a leg and having a second elongate width smallerthan the first width, the shaping surfaces being spaced apart from eachother by a fourth distance smaller than the second distance, whereby aconduit when received between the two legs is compressed out of circularshape by the shaping surfaces.
 7. The clamp and spike combination ofclaim 6, wherein the fourth distance is not more than 90 percent of thesecond distance.
 8. The clamp and spike combination of claim 6, whereinthe second width is not more than 30 percent of the first width.
 9. Theclamp and spike combination of claim 1, wherein mating detents arepositioned in the opening and on the inlet rod, whereby, once the spikeis received by the clamp, the spike is restrained by the detents fromremoval from the clamp.
 10. A clamp for use in combination with a spikeand a flexible conduit of standard diameter, the standard diameterhaving a magnitude of a first distance, the clamp comprising: two legsextending substantially parallel with each other and spaced apart fromeach other by a maximum second distance; an apex portion connecting thetwo legs to each other so that the clamp is shaped substantially in theform of an inverted “U”; and an opening in the apex portion, the openingbeing sized to receive a portion of the spike; wherein, the seconddistance is sized to snugly receive a conduit of standard diameterbetween the legs, whereby the portion of the spike is receivable throughthe opening in the apex portion to penetrate a received conduit; andfurther wherein, each leg includes, at a terminal end of the legopposite the apex, a foot extending towards the foot on an opposite legso that the two feet are separated from each other by a third distancethat is smaller than the second distance, whereby a conduit receivedbetween the two legs is restrained against removal by the two feet. 11.The clamp of claim 10, wherein the clamp has a first elongate width andfurther includes two opposing shaping surfaces, each shaping surfaceattached to a leg and having a second elongate width smaller than thefirst width, the shaping surfaces being spaced apart from each other bya fourth distance smaller than the second distance, whereby a conduitreceived between the two legs is compressed out of circular shape by theshaping surfaces.
 12. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the fourth distanceis not more than 90 percent of the second distance.
 13. The clamp ofclaim 11, wherein the second width is not more than 30 percent of thefirst width.
 14. A spike for use in conjunction with a flexible conduit,comprising: an inlet rod with a sharpened tip for penetration into theconduit; an outlet rod connected to the inlet rod, the outlet rod havinga barbed tip for attachment to a tube; wherein, a bore extends throughthe rods from the sharpened tip to the barbed tip, whereby the spikeprovides a channel for the passage of fluid; further wherein, the outletrod extends substantially perpendicular to the inlet rod; and furtherincluding a plate attached to the spike and extending substantiallyperpendicular to the inlet rod.
 15. The spike of claim 14, wherein theplate is configured to permit a user to apply a force on the spike alongthe axis of the inlet rod with the palm of a hand.